Four Reasons to Run the Rocket City Marathon

Four Reasons to Run the Rocket City Marathon

The Rocket City Marathon is, like any marathon, 26.2 miles. Or, to put it in “Rocket City” context, 381 Saturn V moon rockets laid end to end. Four miles farther than the Apollo 17 crew drove on the moon. It’s 0.0001 percent of the distance to the moon. More than a tenth of the altitude of the International Space Station.

Point being, if all you want to do is run that distance, you could do it anywhere on Earth. (Or off – two astronauts have run marathons in orbit!) So why should you do it in Huntsville? Here’s four reasons to run the Rocket City Marathon :

It’s a good marathon – After all, that’s the most important thing. The Rocket City Marathon (a Boston qualifier) is a flat, fast course, with a reputation for being well organized with a great staff of volunteers and good support from the community. (Many first timers have said it’s a great place to start.)

It’s not just a race, it’s an event – Come in the day before the race for the Rocket City Health & Fitness Expo with clothing and gear vendors, free massages and health screenings, health, fitness and nutrition experts, and more. That evening, prep with the Carbo dinner at the Huntsville Museum of Art with an inspiring guest speaker. (And while you’re there, enjoy the holiday spirit with the Huntsville Tinsel Trail and Ice Skating in the Park.) On race day, there’s a race for children at the Von Braun Center.

We put the “rocket” in the Rocket City Marathon – And the “city.” And the “botanical garden,” even if we don’t put it in the name. Running the marathon, you’ll see the sights of Huntsville in record time as you pass through Huntsville’s beautiful downtown, the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

At the end of the race, you’re still in Huntsville – Include some extra time on your trip to enjoy what the Rocket City has to offer. Re-visit the Space & Rocket Center at a slower pace. Dine at one of our amazing local restaurants. Need ideas for things to do? We’ve got a travel itinerary just for you.

Which iHeartHsv blogger wrote this?

David Hitt is a native of Huntsville who enjoys telling the stories of his hometown. He works in strategic communications for NASA’s Space Launch System, the rocket that will send astronauts to Mars and prove once again that nobody builds ‘em like the Rocket City. David tells Huntsville history stories at the Huntsville Ghost Walk, Constitution Village’s downtown trolley tour, and the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. He’s the author of two books on space history, “Homesteading Space” and “Bold They Rise” and is the director of the Comic Science Improv comedy troupe.